When Cliff Stevenson retired from teaching high school in 2016, he wanted to stay active while giving back to the community. He contacted Pittsburgh Cares to explore volunteer opportunities, shared his background and interests, and they immediately said: reach out to Literacy Pittsburgh.
Cliff remembers his first student, a woman from Algeria who was a college graduate and had taught French in her home country. Near the end of their nine months together, lessons advanced to more nuanced topics.
“We started working on idioms,” Cliff explains. “If you aren’t American, phrases like ‘it’s raining cats and dogs’ and other expressions we use can be confusing.”
Cliff has worked with his current student since before the pandemic. She and her husband own a business, and Monday is her only day off, so that is when she and Cliff meet. Despite long days and a demanding schedule, she continues to make time to improve her English, especially her vocabulary and pronunciation.
Through tutoring, Cliff has gained a deep appreciation for the commitment and resilience of the learners he supports. “Working with immigrants, you realize they work harder,” he explains. “They love being here. They’re more loyal to America than some Americans.”
He encourages others to consider becoming volunteer tutors, even if they do not have a teaching background. “You don’t have to be a teacher,” Cliff says. “Your coordinator gives you the workbooks. They give you assignments.”
After careers in teaching and commercial real estate financing, Cliff now devotes his time to volunteering with Literacy Pittsburgh, working with construction contractors as president of his condo association, traveling, and long-distance bicycling.
Literacy Pittsburgh (formerly Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council) helps create better lives through learning. Recognized as a national leader in adult and family literacy, Literacy Pittsburgh is the largest provider of adult basic education in Allegheny and Beaver Counties. Last year, Literacy Pittsburgh helped more than 4,000 individuals acquire the skills needed to reach their fullest potential in life and participate productively in their communities. Literacy Pittsburgh provides free, personalized instruction in workforce readiness, high school diploma test preparation, digital literacy, English language learning, math, reading, and family literacy through one-to-one and small class instruction. Founded in 1982, it serves local adults through numerous neighborhood locations and its Downtown Pittsburgh Learning Center.
